The volcanoes also produced a lot of steam (water/H2O), but no free existing oxygen (O2).

Oxygen was later produced and introduced into our atmosphere through two processes; photochemical dissociation, caused by the breakup of water molecules by the sun’s ultraviolet light, and photosynthesis, the process that uses carbon dioxide and water (H2O) to form organic compounds while also releasing oxygen (O2).

Early forms of life that developed and lived during this “pre-oxygen time”, some 3.4 billion years ago, were sulfur-based cells and bacteria which lived off metabolized compounds which had sulfur, rather than oxygen, for energy and growth.

According to researchers, these microscopic fossils are 3.4 billion years old. (Photo: Dr David Wacey of the University of Western Australia)

Rick Pantaleo maintains the Science World blog and writes stories for VOA’s web and radio on a variety of science, technology and health topics. He also occasionally appears on various VOA programs to talk about the latest scientific news. Rick joined VOA in 1992 after a 20 year career in commercial broadcasting.

12 Responses to “Earth’s Oldest Fossils Could Provide Clues to Life on Other Planets”

The most interesting conclusions from studies / finds such as this is that it demonstrates the diversity and creativity of life. We have evidence of all sorts of life forms here on Earth surviving in a myriad of very different environments. I’m especially intrigued by the life found around the hydrothermal vents on the deep sea floor.
I can only imagine whenever life is finally discovered on another world the array of reactions this will have on the still-primitive human race. No doubt one side of the political aisle will discredit the find as Earth-contamination or a hoax or outright lie. No doubt writers will cash in.
I just find it intriguing to think about the ridiculousness that will ensue if one day the human race finds extra-terrestrial life – clever enough to go and find it – but not wise enough to truly learn from it.

While it’s true they are found on some of the oldest land on earth you would still expect them to be found in other locations; perhaps South Africa. As they are so far localized (and not a global phenominon) the assumption is they are debris from one of the many impact craters in the local area. Assuming they are native to our planet is just as erroneous as assuming them to be foreign.
It’s lazy science to skip such an important step and determining place of origin.

Fossils, especially those that are more ancient are very rarely found in more than one spot simply because the longest their age, the bigger are the odds that the rocks that contain them will be subdued, eroded or simply destroyed. That is why you find more recent fossils than older ones, and in some cases, species are known just for bits of just one incomplete specimen found. Take for example, some animals from the Ediacaran period. Because they were found at just one place, in Australia, your hypothesis would be automatically valid, and that is not the case. It is indeed possible that panspermia brought them to Earth by means of a meteorite. However, having two equally acceptable explanations, the scientific method requires you to accept the most probable one, and that is, they originated on Earth. As suggestive as your explanation might seem, we should assume that they were Earthlings as long as life outside our planet has not been demonstrated clearly to exist.

This is impossible, because the Bible is very clear: the earth is only 6,000 years old! When will the left-leaning liberal media (VOA) stop running Tea Party Patriots into the ground and brainwashing our children? America is being ruined by taxdollars being wasted on liberal “evolution” brainwashing. Read the Bible, folks! It is very clear on this matter. The earth is only 6,000 years old! duh!!

Genesis 1 vs 1 says in d beginning God created d heavens an d earth. Vs 2 says that the earth was without form or void and darkness was upon d face of d deep. The world God created in vs 1 was a perfect heavens n earth. Sth happened to it that made it to be without form and void. Biblical counting started from verse 2, or after .an entered d scene cos nobody knows d no of years btw vs and vs 2 of Genesis 1. Billions of years could have separated vs1 of genesis from its vs2.